Though many Texas school districts engaged in electioneering during the March 6th primary election by pointing teachers to specific websites, sending emails on behalf of candidates, and even bussing employees to the polls, a healthy number of them are doing the right thing and avoiding such illegal behavior.
Beginning in the Fall of last year, school districts across Texas began passing “culture of voting” resolutions pushed by liberal advocacy groups that disguised efforts to pressure school faculty into voting for particular candidates.
But despite being hoodwinked into passing such a resolution, a number of school districts with the initiative on the books say they haven’t engaged in additional activity.
Speaking to Texas Scorecard, Corsicana ISD School Board Member Jason Sodd said that he and the other members of the Board and administration were unaware of how some other school districts have been abusing taxpayer resources and electioneering when they should have been focused on educating.
“At Corsicana ISD we want teachers, students, and parents to vote in elections, and we are proud that we encourage folks to engage in our republican system,” said Sodd. “But one thing we aren’t interested in is influencing them on how they vote.”
“I’ve fully investigated this issue to ensure such practices aren’t happening and I’ve spoken with school administrators to make sure they don’t happen,” he continued.
Earlier this month, Empower Texans general counsel Tony McDonald mailed a letter to voters in many school districts, including CISD, seeking whistleblowers to report illicit activity. Though a large number of individuals have come forward with information about school districts around the state, no one has come forward with evidence that CISD abused taxpayer funds to support candidates.
In contrast, at least three school districts have received cease and desist letters for electioneering activity that Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton says violates Texas law. And earlier this month Galena Park ISD principal Joe A. Coleman was caught red-handed using his district email account to push school employees to vote for Scott Milder for lieutenant governor.
In light of such abuses, CISD and other school districts who have refused to engage in such illegal activities should be commended.
“We passed the culture of voting resolution because it appeared to be a no brainer that voting is a good thing, but in terms of resources every tax dollar we spend has been and will continue to be focused on improving the education of the children taxpayers have entrusted us with,” said Sodd.
Texas Scorecard encourages all individuals, including school board members, teachers, and parents, to make their voice heard in the electoral process and to advocate for the causes and candidates they care about with their own resources.
